Medical Gown

ABSTRACT

A gown is provided including non-woven fabric having a front portion, a rear portion, said rear portion ending in a lower edge, and a head insertion aperture that is between the front portion and the rear portion. The gown includes an opening in the rear portion; this opening is formed at the lower edge and extends upwards towards the head insertion aperture, and is configured to assist the wearing in donning the gown. There is a bridge extending across the rear portion at least partially between the opening and the head insertion aperture. This bridge is configured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion is pulled away from the wearer.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to medical gowns and more specificallytear-off and disposable medical gowns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medical gowns are commonly used in hospitals, clinics, and other medicalfacilities, where they are worn by patients and staff at medicalfacilities. Medical gowns are used for their protective function toprotect the wearer from contact with germs and other microscopic itemsand to limit the transmission of germs, bodily fluids and microscopicitems in the medical facility. In addition, medical gowns can serve aprivacy function when used by patients to cover their bodies duringprocedures which require the patient to disrobe.

One issue with the prior art medical gowns is that they can be difficultto remove. Users of hospital gowns often aim to remove the gown usingminimum contact to the gown thereby reducing the spread of germs andother microscopic items between the medical gown and the user.

Another issue with the prior art medical gowns is that they require theuser to raise the gown above the user's head during doffing which risksgerms and other microscopic items coming into contact with the wearer orsurroundings.

Some designs have used complicated and difficult to manufactureperforations and scores to assist the wearing in removing the medicalgown. Other designs have characteristics that are uncomfortable for somewearers.

For example, US Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0276203teaches a gown that requires perforations to be made in the gown toassist the wearer with removing the gown.

As another example, US Patent Application Publication No. US2014/0007316 teaches a gown wherein the neck line contains a round orcrew cut on one side and a pointed or “v” cut on the other side which iscomplicated to manufacture and less comfortable for the wearer.

It would be advantageous to have an improved gown that is easy to removeand simple to manufacture.

SUMMARY

The present invention firstly provides for a gown comprising non-wovenfabric having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower edge, and a headinsertion aperture that is between the front portion and the rearportion. The gown comprises an opening in the rear portion; this openingis formed at the lower edge and extends upwards towards the headinsertion aperture, and is configured to assist the wearing in donningthe gown. There is a bridge extending across the rear portion at leastpartially between the opening and the head insertion aperture. Thisbridge is being configured to tear and split the rear portion when thefront portion is pulled away from the wearer.

The present invention secondly provides for a method of wearing andremoving a gown, comprising a number of steps.

In the first step, the wearer accesses the gown comprising non-wovenfabric having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower edge, and a headinsertion aperture that is between the front portion and the rearportion. The gown comprises an opening in the rear portion; this openingis formed at the lower edge and extends upwards towards the headinsertion aperture, and is configured to assist the wearing in donningthe gown. There is a bridge extending across the rear portion at leastpartially between the opening and the head insertion aperture. Thisbridge is being configured to tear and split the rear portion when thefront portion is pulled away from the wearer.

Next, the wearer passes their head through the head insertion apertureto don the gown. To remove the gown, the wearer pulls the front portionof the non-woven fabric layer, thereby tearing the bridge and splittingthe rear portion of the non-woven fabric layer between the headinsertion aperture and the opening to remove the gown.

The present invention secondly provides for a method of making the gown,comprising a number of steps.

The first step provides for one or more non-woven fabrics each arehaving a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges and thenlayering the one or more non-woven fabrics to form multiple layers ofthe non-woven fabric. The layers of the one or more non-woven fabricsare then cut to provide a head insertion aperture between the top edgeand the bottom edge between the two opposing side edges and an openingparallel to the side edges from the bottom edge to a point short of thehead insertion aperture, thereby defining a bridge.

Next, the one or more layers of cut non-woven fabric are separated. Eachindividual layer of cut non-woven fabric is folded along a first lineparallel to the top edge, the first line extending across the non-wovenfabric through the head insertion aperture thereby defining a frontportion and a rear portion. After the layers of cut non-woven fabric arefolded, the front portion and the rear portion are then attached alongat least a part of the outside edge.

It is to be understood that other aspects of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description, wherein various embodiments of the invention areshown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, theinvention is capable for other and different embodiments and its severaldetails are capable of modification in various other respects, allwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further, detailed, description of the invention, briefly describedabove, will follow by reference to the following drawings of specificembodiments of the invention. The drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be consideredlimiting of its scope. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one example of a gown in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of one example of the gown of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of another example of a gown of thepresent invention, containing a notch and tie members configured inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is rear perspective view of a user wearing an example of a gowncontaining a notch configured in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a user removing another example ofa gown in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6(a) is a plan view of one example of one or more embodiments of amethod of making the invention.

FIG. 6(b) is a plan view of one example of one or more embodiments of amethod of making the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a close up view of the rear portion of the head insertionaperture with alternative notch.

The drawing is not necessarily to scale and in some instancesproportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depictcertain features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The description that follows and the embodiments described therein areprovided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, ofparticular embodiments of the principles of various aspects of thepresent invention. These examples are provided for the purposes ofexplanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of theinvention in its various aspects.

With reference to the FIGS. (1), (2), (3) and (4), the present inventionrelates to a new and useful medical gown (1). The present invention isdesigned to overcome difficulties in removing medical gowns andcomplexities involved in manufacturing medical gowns.

While the present invention is described as a medical gown, thisinvention could be any number of gowns and is not necessarily confinedto medical applications, and thus any references to a medical gowninclude garments, apparel, cover gowns, surgical gowns, surgicalisolation gowns, front protection gowns or other gowns. More preferably,the garments related to the present invention are medical gowns such assurgical or isolation gowns.

While the present description may refer to such medical gowns andaccessories and parts thereof, it would be understood by a person ofskill in the art that the present invention can be applied to any numberof other garments or fabric in general without departing from the scopeof the invention.

The present invention provides for a medical gown (1) comprised ofnon-woven fabric. The medical gown (1) having a front portion (2) and arear portion (3) with a head insertion aperture (4) and a lower opening(23). The lower opening being defined by the front portion (2) and rearportion (3) lower edges.

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion (2) is equal to thelength of the rear portion (3). In another embodiment, the length of thefront portion (2) varies from the length of the rear portion (3) and ispreferably greater in length than the rear portion.

In one embodiment, the head insertion aperture (4) is comprised ofcurved edges on the front portion (2) and the rear portion (3). Inanother embodiment, the head insertion aperture (4) is comprised ofstraight edges on the front portion (2) and the rear portion (3).Optionally, the head insertion aperture (4) contains elastic configuredto engage the neck of the wearer and hold the medical gown (1) close tothe neck of the wearer. In other embodiments, the head insertionaperture may be cinched tighter with ties, which ties may be elastic orotherwise, or other methods readily apparent to those skilled in theart.

The rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1) preferably comprises anopening (5). In one embodiment, the opening (5) comprises a slit.Preferably, the opening is formed into the rear portion (3) startingfrom a lower rear edge (6) to a point short of the head insertionaperture (4) on the rear portion (3). In a preferred embodiment, theopening (5) is a straight line along the rear portion (3) of the medicalgown (1). In another embodiment the opening (5) runs perpendicular tothe lower rear edge (6). Optionally, the opening (5) runs along thecentre of the rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1). In anotheroption, the opening (5) is formed directly below but separate from thelowest point of an overall head insertion aperture (4). In oneembodiment, the opening (5) is an opening where the opening is formedinto the rear portion (3) starting from a lower rear edge (6) to a pointshort of the head insertion aperture (4) on the rear potion (3). Thewidth of the opening can range from greater than 0 cm to span the entirerear portion (3). Where the opening spans the rear portion (3), the rearportion is defined as the bridge.

Between the opening (5) and the head insertion aperture (4) is a bridge(7). The bridge (7) can be defined as the piece of non-woven fabricbetween the head insertion aperture (4) and the opening (5). The bridge(7) is configured to tear and split the rear portion (3) when the frontportion (2) is pulled away from the wearer. Preferably, the bridge (7)when measured from the head insertion aperture (4) to the opening (5) isbetween 5-10 cm. More preferably, the bridge (7) is comprised ofnon-woven fabric that when measured from the lowest point of the curvedhead insertion aperture to the opening (5) is 5 cm. The bridge (7) iscomprised of either continuous fabric or separate fabric attached to therear portion (3). Optionally, the bridge is comprised of the same fabricof the gown or a different fabric than that fabric which comprises thegown. In one embodiment, the bridge (7) takes the configuration of ayoke.

The bridge (7), where included, provides several functions. In oneillustrative example, when the wearer pulls the medical gown (1) awayfrom her torso, this causes the force of the pull motion to focus on thebridge (7) causing the non-woven fabric to tear from the opening (5)through the bridge (7). The combination of the tensile strength of thenon-woven fabric that comprises the bridge (7) and the width of thebridge (7) provides a bridge (7) strong enough to support the medicalgown (1) when the user is donning and wearing the gown and weak enoughto allow the user to easily tear and remove the gown. In addition, thewidth of the bridge (7) is designed to ensure that the bridge (7) tearspredictably when force is applied to the medical gown (1).

More specifically, the bridge (7) can be torn by the wearer without theneed for perforations or scores. In another illustrative example, thebridge (7) provides more privacy to the wearer than a “v” neck cutlinein the rear portion (3) otherwise would, allowing the wearer's back tobe covered by the bridge (7). In addition, and as a further example, inone embodiment the bridge (7) and the head insertion aperture (4) arecurved, providing a round neck cutline into the medical gown (1) on thefront portion (2) and the rear portion (3), and this is more comfortableto the wearer than “v” neck cutline in the rear portion (3). In afurther example, the bridge (7) and the insertion aperture (4) that areconfigured to ensure the gown rests on the neck and shoulders of thewearer evenly without “drooping” or “sagging” towards the front portion(2) exposing the chest of the wearer.

In another embodiment, the rear portion (3) head insertion aperture (4)comprises one more notches (12) preferably extending from the headinsertion aperture (4) into the bridge (7). The one or more notches (12)are preferably cut in a “v” shape comprised of a left point (13) andright point (14) and bottom point (15). In a preferred embodiment, theangle formed between the left point (13), the bottom point (15), and theright point (14) is greater than zero degrees. In another embodiment,the angle formed between the left point (13), the bottom point (15), andthe right point (14) is between 1 degree and 115 degrees. In a preferredembodiment, the angle formed between the left point (13), the bottompoint (15), and the right point (14) is acute. Optionally, the angleformed between the left point (13), the bottom point (15), and the rightpoint (14) is ninety degrees. It would be understood that the one ormore notches (12) can take other shapes, such as a diamond shape asshown in FIG. 7 or a line.

In another option, the distance from the left point (13) and the bottompoint (15) is the same as the distance from the right point (14) and thebottom point (15). In another option, the distance from the left point(13) and the bottom point (15) is different than the distance from theright point (15) and the bottom point (15). In another option, thedistance from the left point (13) and the bottom point (15) and distancefrom the right point (15) and the bottom point (15) are each betweenabout 1-5 cm. In the preferred embodiment, the distance between theright point (15) and the left point (13) is greater than 0.5 cm. Inanother option, the distance between the left point (13) and the rightpoint (14) is 1 cm. Most preferably, there is only one notch (12) and itis centered so the bottom point (15) aligns with the opening (5).

The one or more notches (12), where included, provide several functions.In one illustrative example, when the wearer pulls the medical gown (1)away from her torso, this causes the force of the pull motion to focuson the bottom point (15) of the one or more notches (12) making iteasier for the non-woven fabric to tear from the bottom point (15) andthrough the bridge (7). In another illustrative example, the one or morenotches (12) provide more privacy to the wearer than a “v” neck cutlinein the rear portion (3) otherwise would, allowing the wearer's back tobe covered by the bridge (7). In addition, and as a further example, inone embodiment the one or more notches (12) cut into the head insertionaperture (4) that is in round shape providing a round or “crew neck”cutline into the medical gown (1), is more comfortable to the wearerthan “v” neck cutline in the rear portion (3). In a further example theone or more notches (12) cut into the head insertion aperture (4) isconfigured to ensure the gown rests on the neck and shoulders of thewearer evenly without “drooping” or “sagging” towards the front portion(2) exposing the chest of the wearer.

In another embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the opening (5)comprises a second notch (42) preferably extending from the opening (5)into the bridge (7). In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, thesecond notch (42) is in the shape of a triangle. The second notch (42),in one other option as depicted in FIG. 7, is cut in a “diamond” shapecomprising of a second left point (43), a second right point (45), asecond bottom point (47), and a top point (48). In a preferredembodiment, the angle formed between the second left point (43), thesecond bottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is greaterthan zero degrees. In another embodiment, the angle formed between thesecond left point (43), the second right bottom point (47), and thesecond right point (45) is between 1 and 115 degrees. In a preferredembodiment, the angle formed between the second left point (43), thesecond bottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is acute.Optionally, the angle formed between second left point (43), the secondbottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is ninety degrees.

In another option, the distance from the second left point (43) and thesecond bottom point (47) is the same as the distance from the secondright point (45) and the second bottom point (47). In another option,the distance from the second left point (43) and the second bottom point(47) is different than the distance from the second right point (45) andthe second bottom point (47). In another option, the distance from thesecond left point (43) and the second bottom point (47) and distancefrom the second right point (45) and the second bottom point (47) areeach between about 1-5 cm. In the preferred embodiment, the length ofthe opening between the second right point (45) and the second leftpoint (43) is greater than 0.5 cm. In another option, the length of theopening between the second left point (43) and the second right point(45) is 1 cm. Most preferably, there is only one second notch (43) onthe opening (5) and it is centered at the point of the opening closestto the head insertion aperture and aligns with the opening (5). It isunderstood that to those skilled in the art that the second notch (42)could comprise a number of shapes, including a diamond shape asdemonstrated in FIG. 7, a triangle as shown in FIG. 4, or a line.

The second notch (42), where included, provides several functions. Inone illustrative example, when the wearer pulls the medical gown (1)away from her torso, this causes the force of the pull motion to focuson a top point (48) of the second notch (42) making it easier for thenon-woven fabric to tear from the top point (48) through the land bridge(7).

In addition, and as a further example, in one embodiment of the secondnotch (42) cut into the opening (5), the head insertion apertureprovides a “crew neck” cutline into the medical gown (1) that is morecomfortable to the wearer than “v” neck cutline in the rear portion (3).In a further example of the second notch (42) cut into the opening (5),the head insertion aperture provides a “crew neck” cutline into themedical gown (1) that rests on the neck and shoulders of the wearerevenly without “drooping” or “sagging” towards the front portion (2).

Optionally, the medical gown (1) is configured to have a left sleeve (8)and a right sleeve (9) attached to the medical gown (1) with each sleevecomprising an arm insertion aperture. The left sleeve (8) and rightsleeve (9) can be attached to medical gown (1) in a variety of ways. Inanother embodiment, the left sleeve (8) and right sleeve (9) areadhesively attached to the medical gown (1). In another embodiment, theleft sleeve (8) and right sleeve (9) are thermally or ultrasonicallybonded to the medical gown (1). In one embodiment, the left sleeve (8)and right sleeve (9) are sewn to the medical gown. Optionally, thenon-woven fabric of gown is cut with sleeves integral to the frontportion (1) and/or the rear portion (2). In other options the leftsleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) and gown body may be comprised ofdifferent materials.

In one embodiment, the left sleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) containa retention member to retain each sleeve along the arm of the wearer.Optionally, the retention member contains elastic configured to engagethe wrist of the wearer and hold the medical gown (1) close to the wristof the wearer.

In one option, the left sleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) eachterminate with a thumb loop (11) configured to engage the thumb of thewearer to hold each sleeve to the wrist of the wearer.

The thumb loops, where included, provide several functions. Oneillustrative function is that the thumb loops keep the sleeves (8)(9)pulled along the wearer's arms and prevent the sleeves (8)(9) from“riding up” and exposing the wearer's wrist or arm. Another illustrativefunction is that the thumb loops prevent twisting of the sleeves (8)(9)about the wearer's arm. Each thumb loop is configured, in oneembodiment, to engage the saddle of a thumb of the wearer.

In other embodiments, the thumb loop (11) may be combined with a wristelastic or a draw string and mechanism to maintain position around thewrist.

In another embodiment, one or more tie members (19) may be attached tothe medical gown (1). The tie members (19) can be made from the samenon-woven fabric as the medical gown (1). In one embodiment, the tiemembers include a first tie member (21) disposed on the left side (16)of the medical gown (1), and a second tie member (22) disposed on theright side (17) of the medical gown (1). Accordingly, one tie member(21) is disposed on one side of the opening (5), while the other tiemember (22) is disposed on a second side of the opening (5).

In one embodiment, tie members (21) and (22) are a single tie member andthat single tie member is attached to some point on the gown, preferablyin the middle of the gown.

The tie member(s) (21)(22) can be attached to the medical gown (1) in avariety of ways. In one embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are sewn tothe medical gown (1). In another embodiment, the tie members (21)(22)are adhesively attached to the medical gown (1). In another embodiment,the tie members (21)(22) are thermally or ultrasonically bonded to themedical gown (1). Other attachment methods will be obvious to those ofordinary skill in the art.

In the illustration of one embodiment, FIG. (3), the time members(21)(22) are attached on a side medical gown (1). When the tie members(21)(22) are tied across the opening (5), the body of the medical gown(1) becomes cinched at the waist region of the wearer.

Optionally, the colour of the non-woven fabric is yellow however othercolors may be preferred based on the end users practices. Optionally,the non-woven fabric is impregnated with a material that changes colourwhen exposed to liquid or other contaminants.

In one embodiment, to further assist the wearer in removing the gown,the non-woven fabric is configured so as to be tearable by a wearer.Thus, if a wearer were to grasp opposing sides of a section of thenon-woven fabric, and then pull, the non-woven fabric would tear. Aswill be shown below, and in one embodiment, the wearer removes themedical gown by pulling the front potion of the gown, this action thentearing the non-woven fabric across the bridge (7).

Accordingly, a non-woven fabric that is easily torn by a wide range ofstrengths of wearers may be selected for construction of the medicalgown (1) in accordance with such an embodiment.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrated therein is a method of wearingand removing a medical gown (1) in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a wearer who hasalready donned the medical gown. In this illustrative embodiment, themedical gown (1) defines a head insertion aperture (4) between a frontportion (2) and a rear portion (3). The rear portion (3) of the medicalgown (1) contains an opening (5). The opening is cut into a lower rearportion (3) starting from the lower rear edge (6) to a point on the rearportion (3) short of the head insertion aperture (4). In the preferredembodiment, the opening (5) is cut in a straight line. In oneembodiment, the opening (5) runs perpendicular to the lower rear edge(6). Between the opening (5) and the head insertion aperture (4) is abridge (7). The bridge (7) can be defined as the piece of non-wovenfabric between the head insertion aperture (4) and the opening (5). Thebridge (7) is configured to tear and split the rear portion (3) when thefront portion (2) is pulled away from the wearer. In another embodiment,the rear portion (3) head insertion aperture (4) comprises one morenotches (12) preferably extending from the head insertion aperture (4)into the bridge (7). The one or more notches (12) are preferably cut ina “v” shape comprised of a left point (13) and right point (14) andbottom point (15). The medical gown (1) optionally includes one or moretie members (21)/(22) extending from the non-woven fabric layer. Asshown in FIG. (4) the wearer has passed her head through the headinsertion aperture and has optionally also tied the tie members (21)(22)about her torso.

Turning now to FIG. (5), the wearer is now removing the medical gown(1). Specifically, in this example she is using her left hand to graspthe front portion (2) of the medical gown (1). She then pulls medicalgown (1) away from her torso. This causes the bridge (7) to tear,thereby splitting the rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1). Thispulling action tears the bridge (7) and splits the bridge (7) betweenthe head insertion aperture (4) and the opening (5). The wearer can nowsimply drop the medical gown (1) about her torso and step out of it orpreferably, the user may roll the gown from the inside to avoid contactwith the potentially contaminated outside surface of the gown anddispose of the rolled gown as waste. Where the tie members (21)/(22) areloosely tied, the pulling action can cause them to become untied,thereby facilitating simple removal of the medical gown (1) with asimple stroke.

In another embodiment, in which the head insertion aperture (4) has oneor more notches (12), the wearer pulls the medical gown (1) away fromher torso, this causes tensile force motion to focus on the bottom point(15) of the one or more notches (12) making it easier for the non-wovenfabric to tear at the bottom point (15), thereby splitting the bridge(7) below the bottom point (15) and above the opening (5).

Turning now to FIG. 6 and the method of making the medical gown (1). Theroll of non-woven fabric is cut into a rectangle (25) having a top edge(26), a bottom edge (27), and two opposing side edges (28(a)(b)), therectangle (25) being placed on a flat table. Optionally, multiplerectangles (25) are placed on a flat table forming layers of rectangles(25) allowing for efficiencies in the method of making the medical gown(1) as more than one rectangle (25) can be prepared simultaneously.

Use of a cutting machine to punch into the rectangles (25) a headinsertion aperture (4) therein between the top edge (26) and the bottomedge (27) between the two opposing side edges (28(a)(b)) and an opening(5) parallel to the opposing side edges (28(a)(b)) from the bottom edge(27) at least partially to a point on or below the top edge (26).Folding the medical gown (1) such that top edge (26) and the bottom edge(27) comprise a lower opening (23).

Then the two opposing side edges (28(a)(b)) are at least partiallyjoined together with the use of an ultrasonic weld. Optionally, the twoopposing side edges (28(a)(b)) can be sewn together.

Optionally, a second rectangle having a top edge, a bottom edge, and twoopposing side edges is placed on a flat table and then manually cut toform a sleeve piece having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first sleeveside and a second sleeve side. Optionally, multiple rectangles areplaced on a flat table forming layers of rectangles before the punch,allowing for efficiencies in the method of making the sleeves. In oneembodiment, the length of the first sleeve side is greater than thelength of the second sleeve side.

Optionally, the sleeve piece is placed below a cutting machine thatpunches into the sleeve piece a thump loop (11) near the second sleeveside configured to engage the thumb of the wearer to hold each sleeve tothe wrist of the wearer. Optionally, sleeve pieces are placed on a flattable forming layers of rectangles before the cutting machine punchesinto the sleeve piece a thump loop to allow for efficiencies in themethod of making the thumb loop. Optionally, elastic is sown across thesleeve piece at a point between the first edge and the thumb loop.

Optionally, the sleeve pieces are then joined to the medical gown (1)though the use of an ultrasonic weld along the opposing sides.Optionally, the sleeve pieces are sewn to the medical gown (1).Preferably, the first sleeve side is attached to the medical gown (1).

In one embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are then joined to themedical gown (1) through the use of an ultrasonic weld. Optionally, thetie members (21)(22) are sewn to the medical gown (1).

All the offcuts of the non-woven fabric can optionally be collected andsent back to the supplier of the material to be melted down andrecycled.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to beaccorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference toan element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” isnot intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated,but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents tothe elements of the various embodiments described throughout thedisclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of theclaims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicatedto the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitlyrecited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under theprovisions of 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element isexpressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”.

1. A gown comprising: a. a non-woven fabric having a front portion, arear portion, the rear portion ending in a lower edge, and a headinsertion aperture defined between the front portion and the rearportion; b. an opening, the opening defined in the rear portion, saidopening formed at the lower edge and extending towards the headinsertion aperture, configured to assist a wearer in donning the gown;and c. a bridge extending across the rear portion at least partiallybetween the opening and head insertion aperture; the bridge beingconfigured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion ispulled away from the wearer.
 2. The gown of claim 1, further comprisingone or more notches, each notch extending from the head insertionaperture into the bridge; the one or more notches being configured totear and split the bridge when the front portion is pulled away from thewearer.
 3. The gown of claim 1, further comprising one or more notches,each notch extending from the opening into the bridge; the one or morenotches being configured to tear and split the bridge when the frontportion is pulled away from the wearer.
 4. The gown of claim 2, furthercomprising one or more notches, each notch extending from the openinginto the bridge; the one or more notches being configured to tear andsplit the bridge when the front portion is pulled away from the wearer.5. The gown of claim 1, further comprising sleeves.
 6. The gown of claim5, wherein the sleeves terminate with a thumb loop configured to engagea base of a thumb of the wearer.
 7. The gown of claim 5, wherein thesleeves terminate with an elasticized cuff to engage a wrist of thewearer.
 8. The gown of claim 1, wherein the bridge, when measured fromthe head insertion aperture to the opening, is between 5 cm-10 cm inlength.
 9. The gown of claim 1, further comprising one or more tiemembers.
 10. The gown of claim 1, wherein the length of the frontportion is greater than the length of the rear portion.
 11. The gown ofclaim 1, wherein the length of the front portion is equal to the lengthof the rear portion.
 12. The gown of claim 2, wherein the notch isselected from a group consisting of a triangle, a diamond and a line.13. The gown of claim 3, wherein the notch is selected from a groupconsisting of a triangle, a diamond and a line.
 14. A method of wearingand removing a gown, said method comprising the steps of: a. accessingthe gown, the gown comprising: a non-woven fabric having a frontportion, a rear portion, said rear portion ending in a lower edge, and ahead insertion aperture defined between the front portion and the rearportion; an opening, the opening defined in the rear portion, saidopening slip formed at the lower edge and extending towards the headinsertion aperture, configured to assist a wearer in donning the gown;and a bridge extending across the rear portion at least partiallybetween the opening and head insertion aperture; the bridge beingconfigured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion ispulled away from the wearer; b. passing a head of a wearer through thehead insertion aperture to don the gown; c. pulling the front portionaway from the wearer, thereby tearing the bridge and splitting thenon-woven fabric layer between the head insertion aperture and theopening to remove the gown.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the gownfurther comprises one or more notches, each extending from the headinsertion aperture into the bridge; the one or more notches beingconfigured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion ispulled away from the wearer.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein thegown further comprises one or more notches, each extending from theopening into the bridge; the one or more notches being configured totear and split the rear portion when the front portion is pulled awayfrom the wearer.
 17. A method of making a gown, said method comprisingthe steps of: a. layering a plurality of non-woven fabrics to formmultiple layers of the non-woven fabric; each having a top edge, abottom edge, and two opposing side edges; b. cutting into the multiplelayers of non-woven fabric a head insertion aperture between the topedge and the bottom edge between the two opposing side edges and anopening parallel to the side edges from the bottom edge to a point shortof the head insertion aperture, thereby defining a bridge; c. separatingthe one or more layers of cut non-woven fabric; d. folding each cutnon-woven fabric along a first line parallel to the top edge, the firstline extending across the non-woven fabric through the head insertionaperture thereby defining a front portion and a rear portion; and e.attaching the front portion and the rear potion along at least a part ofthe outside edges.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisingcutting into the one or more layers of non-woven fabric one or morenotches, each notch extending from the head insertion aperture into thebridge; the one or more notches being configured to tear and split therear portion when the front portion is pulled away from the wearer. 19.The method of claim 17, further comprising cutting into the one or morelayer of non-woven fabric one or more notches, each notch extending fromthe opening into the bridge; the one or more notches being configured totear and split the rear portion when the front portion is pulled awayfrom the wearer.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the stepof cutting into the one or more layers of non-woven fabric a sleeve witha top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges.